Information for Trans and Non-binary Fertility Preservation - Sperm Freezing

What is involved in freezing sperm?

Providing a sample for freezing usually involves collecting a sample through masturbation or vibratory stimulation into a sterile container. If you have any problems with this, please ask your fertility team, who may be able to discuss alternative approaches.

Once you have produced your sperm sample, the laboratory team will contact you to inform you about its quality and whether it is suitable for freezing. They may recommend providing a second sample to improve the chances of successful fertility preservation.

There is no guarantee that any given semen sample will be suitable for storage. Illness, previous treatments, or other factors can affect sperm production. If this occurs, it may not be possible to freeze the sperm successfully. The only way to confirm this is by laboratory examination of the sperm sample.

I’ve already started hormone therapy or puberty suppressing medication – what are my options?

If you’ve already started hormone therapy, including puberty blockers or hormone blockers and wish to preserve your fertility, that may still be possible, but you will be advised to have a sperm test to assess whether there are sperm present and suitable for freezing or if you need to come off the medication before sperm freezing can be offered.

I’ve been undergoing hormone therapy and I am about to go for genital reconstructive surgery, what are my options for preserving my fertility?

If you’re undergoing genital reconstructive surgery, your only option for trying for biological children in the future is to store sperm before the procedure. Once surgery is completed, sperm production is no longer possible.